I live in calgary and have travelled all over the world and have yet to find a place I'd rather live. Alberta is amazing and I bet most people here that say it sucks have never been. Come visit, I bet we have more money than whatever state you're from

Completely agree. I own a home in Arizona as well as Alberta, I like to go down there but I wouldn't want to live there. A lady in Hawaii once said to me that it must be beautiful in Canada, I replied "if you like cold weather". Her response was that the seasons never change in Hawaii, its always the same. I agree with her now.

Completely agree. I own a home in Arizona as well as Alberta, I like to go down there but I wouldn't want to live there. A lady in Hawaii once said to me that it must be beautiful in Canada, I replied "if you like cold weather". Her response was that the seasons never change in Hawaii, its always the same. I agree with her now.

Always something to look forward to. Hockey and snowboarding in the winter, and it being LESS cold the rest of the year.

No, I'm from Edmonton but moved to Calgary 11 years ago. I, without a doubt would choose Calgary over any place I've been to in the world. At my age, I'd probably enjoy living in Vancouver for a few years (maybe even just to get away from the terrible drivers) but Calgary is definitely the place where I'd want to bring up a family.

What is your definition of quality healthcare? My friends all have a $5,000 annual deductible and if they were to get cancer or diabetes....yikes! One of my friends in AZ had shoulder surgery a couple of years ago and said the healthcare was really good - only cost him $1,900 out of his own pocket!

Getting sick shouldn't force you into bankruptcy.

I'm not sure what kind of work they are doing, but their health plans sound like they suck. Most Canadians I know don't come south of the border for ordinary jobs, which those sound like. That or the companies really just don't give a **** about their employees.

Always something to look forward to. Hockey and snowboarding in the winter, and it being LESS cold the rest of the year.

No, I'm from Edmonton but moved to Calgary 11 years ago. I, without a doubt would choose Calgary over any place I've been to in the world. At my age, I'd probably enjoy living in Vancouver for a few years (maybe even just to get away from the terrible drivers) but Calgary is definitely the place where I'd want to bring up a family.

Calgary is better than Edmonton simply because it's a tad bit warmer and it's much closer to the mountains.

That said if I were a hockey player I wouldn't want to sign with the Flames, competitive wise that is.

Hockey-wise, Edmonton is a MUCH more attractive hockey town. It should be anyways. Banking on a future instead of pension plans is a pretty good bet.

Calgary isn't quite Phoenix level of hopelessness, but with their current squad and their owners unwillingness to give up on the dream, it would be a terrible place for a young player to sign with if he wanted to win early on in his career.

Completely agree. I own a home in Arizona as well as Alberta, I like to go down there but I wouldn't want to live there. A lady in Hawaii once said to me that it must be beautiful in Canada, I replied "if you like cold weather". Her response was that the seasons never change in Hawaii, its always the same. I agree with her now.

I guess she hasn't lived here long then, we have 2 seasons, wet and dry. In the dry season it is warmer and the wet one it is obviously cooler and wetter. Personally I have been to Alberta and Hawaii, and I'm happy here in Hawaii.

Well it's also quite silly to assume everyone agrees with you. Schultz wanted to go to Canada and I get why, he was born and raised there.

I'm just saying, you said that the Orange County was your version of "Hell". Then I pointed out that it's really an awesome lifestyle that many people love, and others dream about. Then you got defensive.

Why turn down NYC or Florida (Miami) too? As a free agent he could signed anywhere.

Actually, I'm surprised he didn't choose a team like Lightning or the Hawks. Maybe he really wanted to be in Canada.

Maybe he just wanted to live like a rock star. In Flordia, california and new york he is a nobody. In Edmonton he could goto any bar and have orgies with different women every night of the week. Not to mention the free meals, suits, dealership supplied vehicles etc.

Even with a lockout hockey is still big news versus playing second fiddle to NFL, NBA, MLB, college football, NASCAR etc

Completely agree. I own a home in Arizona as well as Alberta, I like to go down there but I wouldn't want to live there. A lady in Hawaii once said to me that it must be beautiful in Canada, I replied "if you like cold weather". Her response was that the seasons never change in Hawaii, its always the same. I agree with her now.

and i own a rental condo in the beautiful Okanagan in BC, and just use the condo for 3 weeks a year in the summer...i choose to live in Alberta full time. yes, winter can suck, and the summers can be hot, but the quality of life here is fabulous!

If it was a "hockey decision", then who in their right mind would go play for the Oilers. I could understand if he went to Vancouver, but come on, Edmonton is a worse franchise than Anaheim lol

I wouldn't doubt that it was a hockey decision, as that extends way beyond joining the team with the best record. The Oilers have a great young offensive core, and still had a certain lack in the defensive department to match that. It was a far safer bet for Schultz to come into Edmonton's line-up and play big minutes right away. In Anaheim, he'd have maxed out as their second puck-mover behind Fowler, cutting into the minutes available to him, and making a spot on the first powerplay rather tough to get in, even if things went great for him right from the start. Even with the rumored (not sure if that was confirmed) guarantee to be on the Ducks to start the season, some time in the AHL would not have been out of the question (hypothetically), given their historically more patient approach.

These are obviously things that make the Oilers a more attractive option, hockey-wise, rather immediately. Whether it's the best choice of all available (compared to a situation like, for example, Minnesota, where there'd be a similar opening and the chance to learn to play the position alongside a guy like Suter), I can't tell, but I can certainly see the points. And in the end, a good shot at making the Oilers' top powerplay right away comes with a great shot at putting up very good numbers even in the first two years in the league, which go a long way to making his quick second contract a rather big one right away.

I guess she hasn't lived here long then, we have 2 seasons, wet and dry. In the dry season it is warmer and the wet one it is obviously cooler and wetter. Personally I have been to Alberta and Hawaii, and I'm happy here in Hawaii.

She was a native, nothing wrong with wanting to stay there, I just dont get off on people running a place down when they arnt taking everything into account. Just because its cold sometimes, or warm all the time doesnt make it good or bad! My point was she changed my way of thinking!

Maybe he just wanted to live like a rock star. In Flordia, california and new york he is a nobody. In Edmonton he could goto any bar and have orgies with different women every night of the week. Not to mention the free meals, suits, dealership supplied vehicles etc.

Even with a lockout hockey is still big news versus playing second fiddle to NFL, NBA, MLB, college football, NASCAR etc

It's funny because I think most hockey players want to avoid this kind of media scrutiny and that's why sometimes Canadian teams have trouble in the free agent market.

It's funny because I think most hockey players want to avoid this kind of media scrutiny and that's why sometimes Canadian teams have trouble in the free agent market.

Everyone is different. I recall a profile/interview on the HNIC pre-game show with Shane Doan where he said he had talked numerous times with Iggy and Smitty about playing in Canada vs non traditional markets where you can remain anonymous (assuming maybe both had lobbied for him to sign with their team). At the end of the day what works for them doesn't for him. I think same can be said for Schultz. Winning a cup would be amazing no matter what, but winning one in Canada would be a much different experience than in some places in the US.

Everyone is different. I recall a profile/interview on the HNIC pre-game show with Shane Doan where he said he had talked numerous times with Iggy and Smitty about playing in Canada vs non traditional markets where you can remain anonymous (assuming maybe both had lobbied for him to sign with their team). At the end of the day what works for them doesn't for him. I think same can be said for Schultz. Winning a cup would be amazing no matter what, but winning one in Canada would be a much different experience than in some places in the US.

Obviously some players like the attention, and some players don't. I'm just venturing the slightly educated guess that the majority of them if given the choice would rather make the same money, but live relatively anonymously in a place like Tampa (or wherever). The pressure for players in Canadian cities is intense and if you just slip a bit, or get on the wrong side of some fans, your life can be miserable. Just check out Evander Kane, Roberto Luongo or Mike Komisarek's situations. It can go south quickly and the rock star status can quickly become the opposite. On the flip side Steven Stamkos can make the same money but still live a relatively normal life in Tampa. It hurts that some southern teams do not have owners who assure a competitive team, which is another factor entirely of course.

I think Schultz picked Edmonton because he sees them building on a youth movement, and one of the areas they lack was a perfect fit for him.

Sure on the one hand it will be much easier for him to crack the roster, but part and parcel with that is that he will have to shoulder a bigger portion of the load, the challenge will be greater.

I think he saw a chance to take on a big challenge and become a major part of something that could become huge. I think he has every confidence that he can fill that role and perform up to it.

he didn't pick an easy road.

The kid isn't dumb. He could have picked one of the American teams to go to and face a lot less scrutiny and pressure and still make the money everyone thinks his main motivation was based around. He picked Edmonton..

She was a native, nothing wrong with wanting to stay there, I just dont get off on people running a place down when they arnt taking everything into account. Just because its cold sometimes, or warm all the time doesnt make it good or bad! My point was she changed my way of thinking!

TBH most people that are from here aren't fans of the cold and their idea of cold is 60 degrees farenheit, throw her in even barely freezing weather and then see what she thinks That said I've been in Alberta up to -30 or so, it's a PITA to dress for the winter especially if you have little ones, however if you are born and raised there you think nothing of it, its just a way of life. That said if it came down to Edmonton or LA for example, I'd take Edmonton. Alberta is very clean and for the most part I like the people there. We have lots of Canadian and California transplants here and TBH I'm not a fan of a lot of the Cali ones. That said maybe California is just shipping their problem ones here!